Board Tackles Busy Agenda

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved a budget (and tuition and fees) for 2010-11, authorized gifts to the City of Williamsport and the Williamsport Area School District, elected its slate of officers, and made appointments to the Corporate Advisory Board and the Community Arts Center Board.

The $102.2 million operating budget calls for a 4.81-percent increase in tuition and fees for Pennsylvania residents enrolled at the college. In 2010-11, a full-time, in-state student enrolled for an average of 15 credits per semester will pay $13,080 in tuition and fees. Tuition and fees for a nonresident Penn College student enrolled for a typical 15-credit load over two semesters will be $16,380.

College President Davie Jane Gilmour characterized it as "a challenging budget for us." The budget includes funding for four new faculty positions, 13 faculty replacements and eight temporary positions, she said.

The board authorized a gift of $100,000 to the City of Williamsport, continuing a voluntary annual contribution originally established in 2005-06. The gift is to be re-examined annually. A $35,000 gift was approved for the Williamsport Area School District. The contribution was established in 2007-08 and also is re-examined annually.

The board elected its slate of officers for 2010-11. They are: Robert E. Dunham, chair; John M. Young, vice chair; Joseph J. Doncsecz, treasurer; Gilmour, secretary; Suzanne T. Stopper, assistant treasurer; and Valerie A. Baier, assistant secretary.

The board approved the appointments of Alan A. Gehringer, James K. Shillenn and state Rep. Garth Everett to the college's Corporate Advisory Board. Shillenn is retiring as executive director of the IMC; Gehringer is the IMC managing director. Everett replaces Steven Johnson, who now serves on the college's Board of Directors. Johnson and John J. Romano were welcomed to their first meeting as board members. Romano is retiring as vice president for commonwealth campuses at The Pennsylvania State University; Johnson is president and CEO of Susquehanna Health.

The board also welcomed Paul L. Starkey, incoming vice president for academic affairs/provost, to his first meeting. He begins his duties officially on July 1.

Members appointed to the board of the Community Arts Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of the college, are: Gilmour, William J. Martin, Barry R. Stiger, Veronica M. Muzic and Robert M. Fisher. Alternates are: Robert G. Bowers, Stopper and Ann Marie Phillips.

The board authorized the administration to enter into a three-year agreement to lease a Dix Street property to a gas industry-related company. The firm is expected to make improvements at the site, which will be subject to review by the college, Martin said.

The board heard an update on the proposed construction of a new facility for the masonry program, which is vacating its current space in the Carl Building Technologies Center to accommodate a new program in renewable energy technologies. The presentation was made by Benedict H. Dubbs, of Murray Associates Architects, P.C., and Martin.

The 18,500-square-foot, single-story facility will be located at Vine Avenue and Grier Street. Dubbs said the building, which will feature a large, open lab area, will reflect the latest in "green" technologies and is anticipated to use 30-35 percent of the energy needed to cool/heat a conventionally built structure.

The board will consider construction bids at its Aug. 5 meeting, with work expected to commence soon afterward. Martin said construction should be completed by February or March, though student instruction will not begin at the site until after the Spring 2011 semester.